Thunderstorms claim 1 lifeATKINS — Eighteen-year-old Michaela Remus died inside her home in the Economy community northeast of Atkins on Wednesday morning. Pope County Sheriff Shane Jones said in a press release emergency personnel were dispatched to the residence in the 3200 block of State Highway 247 northeast of Atkins at approximately 7:49 a.m. and responded to an entrapment call. Wednesday’s early-morning high winds and heavy rain caused a large tree to become upr...

News Briefs (Dec. 24, 2015)• Holiday closings City of Russellville offices, the Russellville Animal Shelter, Yard Waste Facility and Recycle Works will be closed today through Sunday for Christmas. All offices will reopen Monday. • LDSP holiday closings The Lake Dardanelle State Park visitor center will be closed today and Friday for the holiday. It will reopen Saturday. • No drivers’ tests There will be no driver’s written or skills tests given on Dec. 24, 25 and 28 or...

Students give back through community service projectThe teenage girl’s happy dance started while she unwrapped gifts containing the clothes that she had hoped for. When the next present was opened and the latest Adele CD was discovered, she could no longer contain her excitement. The happy dance boiled over into unrestrained jubilation. It was that kind of evening inside one of the cottages at Southern Christian Home in Morrilton on Dec. 7 when Arkansas Tech University students from the Enactus...

Hector mayor receives raiseHECTOR — After a 15-minute executive session, the Hector City Council voted to increase the annual salary of Mayor John Riley to $4,200, more than doubling the previous $1,800 stipend. The council, led by member Buck Snider, was effusive in its praise for Riley’s performance in office and initiative in problem solving and improving city services. Riley responded that although he was greatly touched by the gesture, he had “never intended to pro...

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BY STEVE LEAVELL sleavell@cswnet.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Community photo: College of Arts and HumanitiesArkansas Tech University Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities Dr. Jeff Woods made a presentation to the Russellville Rotary Club about the department. Arts and Humanities is the largest college in the University, offering 23 degrees through six different departments. The college has 90 full-time faculty members, who teach the bulk of all general education, as well as degree courses. Pictured with Dr. Woods is Rotarian Mark Freeman.

Setting some guidelinesMembers of the Russellville Historic District Commission (RHDC) met with Van Christiansen last Friday to discuss plans for Christiansen’s building at the corner of West Main Street and South Commerce Avenue in Russellville. Christiansen and the RHDC have been trying to come to an agreement concerning the renovation of the building. The RHDC has concerns that the renovations being made will not blend in with the original/retro look of the rest ...

Time Out for Tech 2016 scheduled for FebruaryAll high school seniors and their families are invited to Time Out for Tech 2016, which will be hosted by the Arkansas Tech University Office of Admissions on Thursday, Feb. 4. The annual preview day provides prospective Arkansas Tech students with a chance to learn more about the academic programs, student housing options and campus life opportunities available on the Russellville campus. “Arkansas Tech strives to create an environment where ...

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BY SAM STRASNER www.atu.eduThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Arrest made in weekend shootingRussellville Police responded to a shooting at approximately 6:49 p.m. on Saturday at the 400 block of South Independence Avenue. Officers arrived on scene and determined the suspect had left the scene prior to their arrival. Detectives have determined after a preliminary investigation that a verbal exchange had occurred between a male suspect on the street and two males in a car. The victims from the car stated the suspect pulled out a gun an...

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COURIER STAFF REPORTSThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

River Valley Rewind (Dec. 23, 2015)Reprinted from a 1975 edition of The Courier-Democrat Mailbox posts, which double as yard markers, are being built by the Dardanelle chapter of Future Farmers of America as a fund-raising project. A name and or address tag is included. The posts are made of 4"x4" lumber. They cost $15 with a mailbox, $10 without. The FFA members will install and cement the posts for an additional $2. Students working on the project include (from left) Steve Ba...

Severe weather claims life in AtkinsATKINS — The Atkins Police Department, Pope County Deputies, Atkins Fire Department and Pope County EMS and Rescue were dispatched to a residence on the 3200 Block of SR 247, Northeast of Atkins at 7:49 a.m. today for an entrapment call. High winds and heavy rain caused a large tree to become uprooted and fall on a house occupied by five individuals. Entrapped in the residence were an 18-year-old female and 18-month old toddler. The toddler wa...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sex offender arrestedThe Russellville Police Department reported that David Green, 36, an absconder wanted by the department for failing to comply with certain aspects of his sex offender registry and for failing to appear to court on felony charges, has been apprehended in Colorado. RPD has been seeking Green since late November.

A place of significance — in Russellville“Shuffle Along,” the first African American musical that launched the careers of Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson, is coming back to Broadway. I learned about it on “Sunday Morning” this week, as well as the fact that the musical was nearly forgotten. The CBS story is filled with interviews of actors who expressed gratitude for the chance to be part of the effort to bring the show back to life. The story brought to mind something I’m passionat...

The Latest: Trees, power lines downed in parts of Arkansas LITTLE ROCK — The latest on severe weather that's in Arkansas' forecast on Wednesday (all times local): 8:55 a.m. Reports of minor damage are trickling in from a storm system that's predicted to bring heavy rain, powerful winds and the risk of tornadoes to Arkansas. The Storm Prediction Center says downed trees and power lines were reported in Pope and Yell counties in western Arkansas and in Searcy and Van Buren counties in northern Arkansas....

News Briefs (Dec. 23, 2015)• Civil Service Commission meeting canceled The Civil Service Commission will not meet in December. The next meeting will be on Jan. 26, 2016. • New Year’s closings City of Russellville offices will be closed on Jan. 1, for the New Year Holiday. • Donation deadlines The deadline to make year-end tax deductible donations to the Russellville Goodwill store or attended donation center is at 6 p.m. on Dec. 31. To donate, drive up, pop the trunk an...

RMS assists with Angel TreeRussellville seventh grade Student Council members recently held a toy drive to help assist with this year’s Salvation Army Angel Tree. Council members have also recently helped raise money for a fellow student whose house caught fire. They have also held a drive to collect food, blankets, detergent, toys and other items for the Russellville Animal Shelter. Student Council members pictured are Lilly Ruston (left), Amelia Pilkington, Ruthie Jac...

The Courier office closing for holidayThe Courier office will close at noon on Thursday and will not publish a paper on Friday due to the holiday. The Courier will publish Saturday and Sunday editions and will reopen offices at 8 a.m. on Monday.

Food 4 Kids tops 100,000 meals in ’15River Valley Food 4 Kids held a holiday food package distribution Saturday at the Pope County Fairgrounds to help ensure that children in the River Valley do not go hungry during the holidays while out of school. More than 80 volunteers at the event were able to serve 989 children, which provided 19,780 meals. During 2015, River Valley Food 4 Kids has been able to provide over 100,000 meals to children in Pope County who are considered food in...

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Pre-Christmas severe storm, flood threat to target southern USAccuWeather Global Weather Center — AccuWeather reports a series of storms will move across the eastern half of the United States into Christmas Eve and trigger the potential for severe storms and flooding rainfall across the Southern states. Travelers from Texas to the Carolinas and into the lower Great Lakes need to remain aware of rapidly changing weather conditions while heading to their holiday destinations. Severe thunderstorms to target...